Rwanda

CURATED ADVENTURES | HONEST PRICING | CONSCIENTIOUS TRAVEL

Rwanda

Rwanda has for the longest time been referred to as “The Land of a Thousand Hills”. It’s capital Kigali is within easy reach of cultural and natural treasures. Take advantage and venture into the national parks and track the endangered mountain gorillas on the slopes of Virunga Volcanoes, enjoy the popular ‘big five’ safari in Akagera which is rated as one of the most scenic national parks in Africa, or learn about the rich biodiversity in Nyungwe which is highly acknowledged as the largest protected mountain rainforest in Africa. The shores of Lake Kivu, Cultural Heritage Corridor, local village visits, agro-tours and the adventure experiences await you. The delicious local cuisine, unique culture and arts, combined with breathtaking natural beauty await your visit for you to experience the first-hand taste of Rwanda’s warm hospitality. Evergreen Holidays invites you to explore Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills and a million smiles.

More about Rwanda

Brief History & Geography

Rwanda was formerly known as Ruanda and for centuries existed as a centralized monarchy under a succession of Tutsi kings from one clan, who ruled through cattle chiefs, land chiefs and military chiefs. The king was supreme but the rest of the population, Hutu, Tutsi and Twa, lived in symbiotic harmony. From 1959, Tutsi were targeted, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and sending almost two million of them into exile. The Rwandese Alliance for National Unity (RANU) was formed in 1979 by Rwandan refugees in exile, to mobilize against divisive politics and genocide ideology, repeated massacres, statelessness and the lack of peaceful political exchange. In 2003, President Paul Kagame was elected with a landslide majority to serve a term of seven years and was re-elected in 2010.

During these years, the country made unprecedented socio-economic and political progress and consolidated peace, stability as well as social cohesion among Rwandans. Rwanda is located in Central/Eastern Africa, and is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, Uganda to the north, Tanzania to the east, and Burundi to the south. It lies a few degrees south of the equator and is landlocked. The capital, Kigali, is located near the center of Rwanda. The country has a temperate tropical highland climate, with lower temperatures that are typical for equatorial countries because of its high elevation. Kigali, in the center of the country, has a typical daily temperature range between 12 and 27 °C, with little variation through the year.

Safaris in Rwanda

When visiting Rwanda, it is impossible not to see and learn about the impact of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. While this is a remarkably moving experience, it is at the same time surprisingly uplifting, as you will experience first-hand how the people of Rwanda moved forward in a positive light and are a good example to the world of a successful story of peace and reconciliation. The Safaris in Rwanda allow you to experience magic itself from the vast acres of land with astounding landscapes, abundant wildlife from their unique parks which include gorilla treks and her warm welcoming people. When on your safari in Rwanda, you will be pleasantly surprised by many little things such as the cleanliness levels of the streets and the standards of many roads. Rwanda’s compact size is no secret; this simply means minimized travel time during your safaris which allows the visitors to explore the natural and cultural attractions, one hill at a time.

What to pack

Daytime temperatures are generally warm, so bring lots of light clothing and think about sun protection, including a hat and sunglasses. The evenings tend to be cool, and a light sweater appreciated.
A water bottle to fetch and carry your clean drinking water from a dispenser (The hotels we use are working on doing away with single-use plastic bottles and have accessible clean water in dispensers)
In Volcanoes and Nyungwe National Park slightly heavier clothing is useful. A lightweight waterproof jacket may come in handy in the moist mountains.
Avoid wearing blue in Akagera National Park, which attracts tse tse flies, and take sensible precautions against mosquitos and other bites.
When tracking gorillas, wear sturdier clothing to protect against stinging nettles, and solid walking shoes. Consider bringing gardening or leather gloves as well as gaiters.
For those who wear contact lenses, cleaning fluid is not readily available and dust or sun could prove an irritation, so it’s best to bring a pair of glasses along for a peace of mind.